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Betsy and I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year. We hope that Santa is good to you, and all of your memories are happy ones. We'll see you in 2012.

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We were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway early one morning last month through patches of fog and mist. The fog had lifted around us when we came upon the Headforemost Mountain (I have no idea how the mountain got that name) Overlook. From our vantage point we could look across at the mountain, which seemed to be floating above the clouds.

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I know that almost all of the leaves on our trees have long since fallen to ground, but I like the look of the leaves on our dogwood tree as they turn each autumn.

This picture was taken in early October of this year.

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We often get beautiful, colorful sunsets on the Plateau. An advantage of sunsets this time of the year is that we can watch the sun drop over the horizon without a lot of trees in the way from the 12th tee of the golf course near our home. This picture was taken in late November of this year.

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Cane Creek Cascade in Fall Creek Falls State Park is a spot we visit once or twice each year. We've seen higher waterfalls, but this is one that is just as beautiful and we can enjoy it up close and personal.

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This is one of the blossoms that Betsy and I saw in the Conservatory at the Biltmore Estate when we visited last month. I was struck by the colors and the markings on the petals.

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This is a part of Blue Hole Falls in Old Stone Fort State Park near Manchester, Tennessee. Tennessee was in the midst of a drought at the time of our visit, so much of the waterfall was dry. But we did find a small flow near the edge of the waterfall and I snapped this picture.

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The leaves are now gone from the trees, and the weather has turned colder. But this reminder of the glory of autumn brightens my spirits and warms my heart. This picture was taken in our front yard.

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I captured these early morning reflections at Abbott Lake in the Peaks of Otter along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. We were treated to this view from the balcony of our room at the lodge in the park.

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We cross the dam creating Lake Canterbury here in the Glade almost every time we come home from Crossville. The late afternoon sun created this beautiful autumn scene which I couldn't resist capturing.